Folding table



J. BONTEMPS FOLDING TABLE Filed June 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z INVEIgOR BY Lou/s CASPER ATTORNEY Aug. 14, 1934.

r\ ts cu cu m IN .J. BbNTEMPs FOLDING TABLE Aug. 14, 1934.

Filed June 6. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR BY Lou/'5 CASPER.

A'ITORNE'Y Patented Aug. 14, 1934 Joseph Bonternps; Richmond Hill ircle, Y., r assign! to Colla'mo'Iabl'e Company, New York; I

N.1Y., aco-partnership...

The object of my invention isto provide a table that can be easily folded into a'smallcome pass and to combine a maximum firmne'ssand rigidity when .set up..

A further object in my invention is to provide means hereinafter to be described of maintaining all the moving parts of the table when folded in compact fixed and immovable positions, thus making it exceedingly easy for transportation or for storage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the table, the left side thereof exposed so as to show the gravity lock latch arrangements, 21, 23 which hold the table legs in rigid position when the table is set up in normally upright position.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the table with all moving parts thereof collapsed and folded. In addition to this the figure shows the table legs partially opened up in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the table on a line 33 of Fig. 1. This figure shows the gravity lock latch socket 21 and the cross-bar support 28 connected to the gravity lock latch 23.

Fig. 4 is an underside cross section on a line 4-4 of Fig. 1 with all parts collapsed or folded.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the table on a line 5-5 of Fig. 2 the better able to show the securing gravity lock latching hinge and the socket which the curved end of the latch slides into.

Fig. 6 is a side sectional view of the table to show a modification of the gravity locking latch arrangement 23 and 24.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 is the table top to which all parts are secured. 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively are the table legs. 6, '1 are the transverse leg bars or strips that hold each pair of legs integrally together. 15, 16 are two movable parallel side boards or aprons hinged at 17, 18, 19 and as shown. These boards or aprons when hinged in normal position hold each pair of legs in substantial upright position when they are so placed in the first instance. The boards function also as side braces for the table as is usual in ordinary table construction. The legs are hinged to fold or turn inwardly on hinges 8, 9 and l0, 11 (see Fig. 4).

12, 13 (Fig. 4) are cross-bars permanently secured to the underside of the table to better support the side edging 14 of the table proper.

5.,21-,:'(Flg.4),22 (Fig.1). are metal slots or socketaintowhiehthe gravity lock latches 23 and 24 alidewhen the. table'is standing'upright and all its normalluncollapsed position. 25 are the curved ends of latches 23 66 and 24 which slide into slots or sockets 21 and 22 in the manner stated. 26, 27 are the hinges attached to lock latches 23, and 24 and cause them to move easily up or down automatically by reason of gravity. If the table is standing upright table side up, the latches fall into the slots or sockets and when the table is overturned with the top of the table down, the lock latches will slide out of the slots orsockets without manual assistance. 7o

28 (Fig. 3) are metal crosspieces attached at right angles to the gravity lock latches 23 and 24 and are used to hold the said latches in position as well as to maintain the parallel side boards 15 and 16 in normal and unyielding position when the table is set up and standing upright.

29, 30 are U-shaped resilient clip springs with their ends turned outward. These clip springs secure the table legs in position when the same 3;) are collapsed'and folded inward into the under side of the table.

31 is a modification of the latches 23 and 24.

In this case both latches are held and hinged by a single hinge 31 at the underneath centre of the 35 table as shown in Fig. 6.

The table is collapsed or folded by first turning the table upside down. This causes the gravity lock latches to automatically fall back out of slots or sockets 21 and 22. The parallel side boards 15 16 being made free by the release of the latch locks are swung on their hinges inward. This releases the paired table legs and their crossbars 6 and 7 at the ends of the table and they are then folded inwardly on their hinges to a horizontal position. The clip springs 29 and 30 hold the tip ends of the table legs in their proper folded positions.

To set up the table the foregoing description is reversed as follows: The paired legs are brought 1 to a vertical position on. their respective hinges. The parallel side boards 15 and 16 are next moved to an edgewise position as shown in Fig. 6, the ends thereof resting at or against the table leg cross-bars 6 and 7 as shown in Fig. 1. The table is then turned to an upright position. When this is done the curved ends 25 of latches 23 and 24 fall downward automatically by reason of gravity into the slots or sockets 21 and 22. This gives the table legs and the associated parallel boards 15 and 16 a rigidity approximately equal to that of a regular non-foldable table. When the table is thus set up it has the utility and appearance of standard types of tables in common use.

I am fully aware that many folding tables have been devised, but the inherent weakness in most of them is the lack-of rigidity; and-stability of the pairedlegs when set, up and :th'e" tendency iof the folded parts to work loose when collapsed or folded up and also with the eliminatio riof'si de braces which are often used to brace the legs-of set-up tables tend to interfere with free legmovement of the person seated beside such t'y p-"of' tables- By means of the gravity latch 10;:

with other features as clescribed.

What I claim as my invention desire to secure by Letters Patent is: ;V

1. A folding table comprising a top, legs hinged to said top adjacent the ends, side boards hinged to the top to swing between the legs-upon said legs being moved atrightangles to :the- "top, anda gravity-actuatedlatchhaving means for simul- 411K, vention the desired stability is attained together; e

taneously engaging both the legs and side boards to lock the same when said legs are moved at right angles to the top.

2. A folding table comprising a top, legs hinged to said top adjacent the ends, side boards hinged to the top to swing between the legs upon said legs-being moved at right. angles to the top, a latchisecurdato the-top, said latch having means forengaging the legs and an angular extension for engaging the side boards, both said leg and side board engaging means being simultaneously operable when the legs are moved at right angles to the top in the upright position of the table.

3. a ioldingtablecomprising a top, legs hinged to said top adjacent the ends, side boards hinged to-the-top to swing-between the legs upon said ,legs being moved at right angles to the top, a latch's'ecured to the top, the legs having a socket,

;. andthe latch having a hinged member engageable in said socket, and a cross piece extending lateral- 1y from said member for contacting a side board,

said latch being operable by gravity when the table is arranged in an upright position.

J OSEPH' BONTEMPS. 

